Wednesday marks the start of all the SDCC craziness. Thursday is officially the first day of the convention but Wednesday has started to become just as eventful a day as any other (at least after 6:00 PM). There’s a lot going on Wednesday – and a lot more going on Thursday once things really get going.
It can be hard to figure out what events and panels to attend. There is just so much happening all at once.
Don’t worry, though! We’ve got you covered.
Here are our top picks for panels, parties, and events for Preview Night and Thursday!
Wednesday
ComicsOnline Tweet Up 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM @ Lolita’s
Getting in to San Diego super early on Wednesday or are you a local who wants to hit the convention scene and get a lay of the land ahead of time? Consider taking a lunch break with the folks from ComicsOnline. They’ll be meeting up at Lolita’s on the other side of Petco Park for some good food and talk.
Preview Night
If you were able to score a Preview Night badge there are a few cool things for you to do Wednesday night. There will be various sneak peek pilots being aired – namely: Supergirl, Containment, Blindspot, and Lucifer plus a bonus look at an upcoming Teen Titans GO! episode. Those will start at 6 PM. Meanwhile, the Exhibit Hall floor will open somewhere between 5 PM to 6PM. There’s never really an official time so show up early and see what happens.
Conan Bingo 6:30 PM (Continues All Weekend)
All right, so, admittedly I have no idea what’s going to be going on with this event. But that doesn’t matter. It’s going to be awesome. Conan and Bingo – that’s enough for me. While the event continues all weekend, Wednesday is a great day to check it out if you’re in town and don’t have a Preview Night badge!
Game of Bloggers 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM @ Dragon’s Den
Tony Kim (Crazy4ComicCon) is throwing his own Preview Night shindig and the staff of Nerdophiles – as well as a number of your other favorite sites – will be there! Come on over to the Dragon’s Den near Petco Park to hang out and have some pre-con fun.
Thursday
Wrath of Con Bloggers 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM @ Room 14A
Join Tony Kim and a panel of other bloggers as they talk about what it takes to make it in the SDCC blogging game. If comic conventions and nerd culture are some of your greatest passions this is a chance to learn how to get started from some the greats. Plus they’re just generally pretty cool folks.
Autobiography of James T. Kirk 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM @ Ballroom 20
William Shatner himself will be reading from the fictionalized Autobiography of James T. Kirk on Thursday in what is bound to be a must-see panel. The book itself comes out in September but how can you pass up a chance to see the man himself ‘reprising’ the role on stage at SDCC? I know I can’t.
Workshop with Kelly Sue DeConnick 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM @ Room 2
One of the best and brightest in comics today, Kelly Sue DeConnick is leading a panel on how to break into comics yourself. From writing to scripting, she’ll be going through the basics for anyone interested in making their own comic books. This is a chance to learn from one of the real masters of the craft.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM @ Hall H
This will be the last outing for the Hunger Games cast and it’s bound to be a must-see event. That said, make sure that you pick up your wristbands early on Wednesday because, while you might not need to camp out for this one, you’ll definitely want to get in line sometime that morning. Should be a great final look at the film series that helped bring YA dystopias to the forefront of pop culture.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombie World Reveal 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM @ Room 6BCF
If you love Black Ops, zombies, and/or exclusive swag then this panel is a must-see. They’ll be releasing the zombie mode trailer and giving out some free stuff you won’t get anywhere else.
After the panel, the Activision folks will be opening up their zombie-themed Escape Room Challenge offsite. The even will continue all weekend long and you don’t need a badge to enter so check it out! It’s gonna be awesome. We’re running it Thursday at 5:30 PM so maybe we’ll see you there.
The Last Ship Panel 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM @ Room 6A
We’re huge fans of The Last Ship so you have to imagine we’re not going to pass up an opportunity to promote the series at SDCC. The panel will give con-goers an exclusive look at the upcoming season. Eric Dane, Rhona Mitra, and Adam Baldwin are also going to be on hand!
Doctor Who Panel 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM @ Ballroom 20
Thursday is a great day to camp Ballroom 20. Peter Capaldi will be on site for his very first SDCC appearance this year for the official Doctor Who panel. Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat will also be there so Doctor Who fans definitely need to take note!
World Building Panel 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM @ Room 25ABC
Are you a budding writer? Peter Clines, Richard Kadrey, Sabaa Tahir, Josephine Angelini, Brandon Mull, and Virginia Boecker are going to be discussing world building for fantasy and science fiction series. Should be a lot of fun and very useful for anyone out there looking to write their own stories.
NASA: Turning Science Fiction into Science Fact 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM @ Room 6BCF
Aww, yeah! NASA will be at SDCC this year talk science fiction, science fact, and all the ways those two things intersect. The executive producer of the upcoming The Martian film will be there as well as scientists and others. The crew of the International Space Station will even be chiming in via pre-recorded video message.
Teen Wolf Panel 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM @ Ballroom 20
The Teen Wolf panels are always a lot of fun and fans of the series really don’t want to miss this one. I went last year and it was just a blast. Hilarious, fan-focused, and just generally awesome, I can only hope we get can get into this one this year!
Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake: Card Wars Dramatic Reading 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM @ Horton Grand Theatre
Who doesn’t love table readings? The cast of Adventure Time is coming together to go over a script that’s meant to tie-in with the upcoming Fionna & Cake: Card Wars comic from BOOM! Studios and the related game. It should be pretty awesome.
MTV Fandom Fest and Fandom Awards 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM @ Petco Park
The party starts at 7 PM with food, drinks, and giveaways. Afterward – around 8 PM – they’ll start filming the actual award show which will air July 12th. You can still vote on your favorite ships if you like. Or you can just show up and party hard – as long as you have a badge. Vote here!
Dark Matter Panel 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM @ Room 6BCF
Okay, so, I’m in love with this show. It’s awesome. It’s classic science fiction in all the right ways. The bulk of the cast will be at the panel and they seem like pretty awesome people so it should be a lot of fun. If you’re not watching the show – get on it! Then get excited to see everyone at SDCC.
Tattooine Law: Legal Lessons from Star Wars 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM @ Room 6BCF
Okay, so, maybe I’m the only one looking forward to this. But as a total law nerd you know it’s going to be hilarious to see all our usual laws of property and such applied to a galaxy far, far away. I’m going back to the convention center at the end of the day just for this panel. No joke.
Geeks Go Glam 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM ($15) @ San Diego Public Library Patio
The Nerdy Girlie and Being Geek Chic this optional black tie affair. If you like to get dressed up this should be the perfect party for you. Admission is just $15. There will be snacks, tea, dancing, prizes, and more. You don’t have to dress up but it’s encouraged!
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Welcome Party 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM ($10-$20 Donation) @ The Westgate Hotel
Co-hosted by Black Alchemy Labs and sponsored by Image Comics and Comixology, the CBLDF Welcome Party is a great chance to meet some comic creators, mingle with the folks behind the CBLDF, and support a great cause. Members get in free and there’s a recommended donation of $10-20 for everyone else. Scott Snyder, Jeff Lemire, and Kieron Gillen along with a bunch of others will be there so it’s definitely worth checking out!
BOOM! Ten Year Birthday Bash 9:00 PM – Close @ The Odysea Bar – Hilton
BOOM! Studios is celebrating ten years and they’re inviting you to join them. There will be a cash bar and plenty of BOOM! creators and bigwigs around. The party is open to everyone so feel free to stop by if you get a chance!